Entries tagged with need advice?

We’ve had two works on exactly the same subject in as many days. Both are quite well written, with very similar content and even a similar style.

But I’ve only passed one on for further consideration. Why?

Because one has been written by two sisters, while the other has been co-written by someone with a PhD in the subject.

From whom would you buy?

This is why, when you submit – and especially with non-fiction – you should include an author biography that makes you shine, succinctly detailing your achievements and suitability to write the idea. Even if the idea is amazing and doesn’t come up that often, you may very well be asked to help promote the work in whatever way possible. We look at the author as well as the work when considering.

There are no original ideas, only original executions. With this in mind, you must find the confidence to sell yourself as much as your work.

"This might seem a strange question - but do I need to complete my MA in order to be taken seriously as a writer?

"

My reply:

"Hi Author!

"It's actually a really good question; in short, it depends on your idea. Many of our existing authors are taken on due to a variety of factors, and while academic ability does play a part in more of our scientifically-oriented works, other works we do are often accepted on either an incredibly good idea, or, more often, an author's profile. A yoga teacher with fifteen years' experience will be much more credible than someone who's been going to classes for three.

Every so often I get letters from authors who think their work is better than everyone else’s, and that a rejection means that a) I haven’t read it, or b) I have read it, but I must read it again to appreciate its wondrous quality.

Of course I can’t say “Look, I’m sorry, but your work is substandard”, as much as I’d like to sometimes. But, what I can do is give that author two pages stating precisely what they need to do: leave it, and try somewhere else. I don’t just disregard submissions – I do read them all – but, by and large, the chances aren’t great. We take ten from eight hundred. Repeat: 10 out of 800. Likewise, because there are so many submissions, it’s likely the author will get a standard rejection letter.

If you get one of the two page letters from me, read it carefully. It’s the best advice I can give to you and, if your work and attitude are poor, sometimes the most attention you’ll ever get from a busy industry that doesn’t like whiners, bullshitters, or people who can’t take “no” for an answer.

I’ve had a few calls from prospective authors asking, in short, what part of their work they need to send in their work so we can publish it. Not consider – publish.

The short answer is nothing – not without looking to see whether your work is right for us, anyway. A publisher cannot take on everything that’s submitted: it costs thousands of pounds to publish a book, and we need to know we’ll at least get that money back if not more. We are a profit making industry, and the risk takers are few. The only guaranteed way to get your work published is to do it yourself. If you approach any commercial publisher, it’s more likely than not that you’ll be rejected, especially if the book is completely the wrong subject for that publisher. You don’t send a military history book to a children’s publisher; likewise, we are an adult non-fiction publisher, and don’t accept fiction or children’s work unless the author has a VERY long history with us.

Our odds? Well, I’ve received 140 submissions since I started here at the end of May. Only two stand any chance of publication by us, and only one has had the green light to be published.

Depending on the company, these odds may vary, but can be even higher – and we’re one of the dwindling few that take on unsolicited. To improve your odds, do one of the following before even thinking about submitting:

There are a few stages from first sending off a manuscript and seeing it on the shelf, and many authors aren’t aware of them. While the exact stages and names of these stages vary from publisher to publisher, the basic process is listed below to give you a clearer idea.

And then that’s it. Once its release date is decided, it finally goes on the shelves, to be loved, hated, bought and sold, and it’s pure luck from here on in. This is why I say you need to develop a thick skin: not just from the initial critics of your work, but also from the critics should it hit the shelves. Publishing a work is very much a labour of love, and those who can turn your idea into something anyone can access certainly do love their work, but it can be very, very difficult for authors. But keep your chin up. It's difficult for us too. It is a tough journey that you choose to undertake with us, but oh my, it’s also a fun one, and it has power, genius and magic in it.

“And even if everything were to turn out the opposite of what I imagine, no malice could ever obscure the glory of having kindled this endeavour.”